Adjustable goggle mounting



March 10, 1959 J. N. SIMPSON ADJUSTABLE GOGGLE MOUNTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, .1956

INVENTOR.

JACK N. SIMPSON March 10, 1959- J. N. SIMPSON ADJUSTABLE 'GOGGLE MOUNTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1956 I I!!! fill/J I! III 1! INVENTOR. JACK N.S|MPSON Ill/rill I! I I! If! United Sttes Patent C ADJUSTABLE GOGGLE MOUNTING Jack N. Simpson, Reading, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Electric Storage Battery Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 18, 1956, Serial No. 560,050

7 Claims. (Cl. 2-14) This invention relates to an adjustable mounting and more particularly, to means for adjustably mounting a pair of goggles on a headgear so that it may provide a comfortable fit on numerous wearers having different head sizes and facial contours.

An outstanding disadvantage of goggle spring suspensions mounted on headgears, such as commonly used, is that they are relatively complicated in construction and-involve many parts of unusual construction which not only add considerably to the cost but which necessitate frequent replacement, therefore there are frequent periods of time when the goggles are not in condition for use. Another outstanding disadvantage of conventional, goggle spring suspensions is that no adjustability is provided to enable the goggles to fit different wearers having different head sizes and to provide maximum comfort, that is, so that the goggles will exert a minimum amount of pressure, only suflicient to keep them seated against the eye-surrounding portions of the face of the wearer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a goggle assembly including a novel spring mounted, adjustable suspension which is devoid of the above named disadvantages and which provides a firm, comfortable contact against the wearers face when in position for welding, brazing, soldering, cutting by torch and similar operations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a suspension for a pair of goggles, which suspension involves relatively few, simple, lightweight and inexpensive parts which are economically manufactured and are easily and quickly replaceable and which enables very easy removal of the goggles from the eyes of the wearer to a comfortable resting place on the forehead.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a goggle suspension including a spring-mounted linkage which is readily adjustable to vary both the length of the linkage and the tension of the spring so that the goggles may fit a wide variety of head sizes and so that they may be easily adjusted to provide maximum comfort in wear.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a study of the following description taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a goggle assembly including an adjustable, spring mounted suspension for mounting the goggles on a headgear and embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through one of the spring containing tubes or barrels shown in Fig.- 1 and taken along line IIII of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, end view of the adjusting means taken from line IIIIII of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modification including an enlarged nut instead of the adjusting screw in Figure 2 for adjustably tensioning the spring.

Figure 5 is an end view taken along line V-V 'of Figure 4.

2,876,454 Patented Mar. 10, 1959 Figure 6 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of a modified form of tube or barrel which can be used instead of tube 6 and having a flared end portion, and,

Figure 7 is another modification of the tube 6, showing a separate cap attached to the end portion thereof. I

Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, numeral I denotes a headband made of a strip of fiber, plastic or other suitable flexible material which strip is bent to an oval shape so that its end portions overlap: The headband, preferably on the forehead contacting portion, may be covered by a sweat band 2 of felt or other suitable cushioning and moisture absorbing material, the overlapping end portions of which are fastened together by snap fasteners 2a or similar detachable fastening means. Numeral 3 denotes a headband adjusting means of any well known type for effecting relative movement between the overlapped end portions of the headband for obtaining different girths or perimeters of the headband.

A pair of clamps or clips 4 are provided on opposite sides of handband 1, each comprising a strip of heat treated aluminum or other suitable material bent along substantially a circle and snugly embracing tube 6. Each clip 4 is provided with registering holes in its end portions through which there extends the shank of an adjusting screw 5 onto the threaded end of which is screwed a nut 5a, which may be a so-called Palnut as shown or perhaps a wingnut or other suitable fastening means. Washers are provided adjacent the head of the screw and nut as shown.

It will be apparent from Figure 3 that as a screw driver or coin is inserted in the kerf of the head of screw 5 and is turned, the end portions of clamps 4 are brought more tightly together so as to provide a greater frictional contact at the pivotal friction joint for resisting pivotal movement of the clamp and goggle assembly to which the clamp is connected to be described hereinafter. It will be noted further that adjusting screw 5 is provided with a very thin head of comparatively large diameter providing a large bearing surface to enable ease of turning andrat the same time prevent projection thereof against the head of the wearer and resulting discomfort. Preferably the sweat band 2 has an extension along the inner surface of handband 1 which will cover the head of screw 5 so as to prevent contact thereof with the head of the wearer. It will be noted further that the clip has a dual function since its end portions act somewhat like lock washers in that they provide spring action which contributes to the friction joint and is resisted by tightening of screw 5 or nut 5a.

Clips 4 may be adjustably clamped to the tube 6 on each side of the headband along selective portions ofthe length of tubes 6 by the mere loosening and subsequent tightening of nuts 5a or screws 5, so that the goggles may be worn at adjustable distances from the headband so as to fit different wearers having different head sizes or facial contours. Tubes 6 are in the form of hollow tubing of aluminum or other light metal or plastic material, each having one end opentand the other end closed but with a central aperture through which there may he slidably mounted an offset arm 7. The forward end of each arm 7 is pivotally mounted to a pair of goggles 10 by means of a rivet 8 or other suitable fastening means, perhaps of the detachable kind such as a small machine screw and locking nut to enable replacement of parts. The shank portion of the rivets 8 are secured to opposite and outer side portions of a pair of goggles 10 of any suitable construction, such as those containing air vents 11 on the sides thereof.

As shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2, a stop element 9 is fastened to each arm 7 and is in the form of a thin strip of metal having integral, laterally extending ar. portions 9a snugly w pp d about the end portion of arm 7 to fasten the stop element thereto. Each of the two stop elements 9 projects through a slot 10a formed on an outsideor temporal. portion of the goggles whereby the endsof each slot 10a define the limits of relative pivotal movement of stop element 9 and goggle 18 about rivet d as a pivot and thus limit the extent of relative pivotal movement of the goggles 10 with respect to the pivotal supporting arms 7. By making the stop element 9 relatively thin, and of the construction shown, it acts also as an adapter in that it can be used on conventional types of goggles and on goggles of various types since stop elements 9 will readily fit the varying slot sizes of different goggles to limitthe pivotal movement of the goggles relaive to arms 7- hsshown in Figure 2, the rearward ends of arms 7 are drilled and tapped and threaded shanks 12a, of adjusting screws 12 are screw threaded therein, A spacer sleeve 13 is telescopically fitted about an end portion of each arm 7 and the inner end of the sleeve supports one end of a helical spring 14, the other end of which spring bears against the closed end of the tube 6.

Figure 6 shows a modification of the tube 6 which is in the form of a hollow cylinder 16 having one end open and the other end 16a flared to provide a closure or stop for the spring and provided with an opening of proper size to serve as a bearing for providing easy riding or sliding movement of arm 7.

Figure 7 shows a still further modification of the tube 6 which is in the form of a hollow cylindrical tubing 17 which is closed only on one end by means of a separate cap 17a for holding one end of the spring and which is either screw threadedly secured, slip fitted or otherwise attached to the end of tubing 17.

In operation, it will be apparent, particularly from Figure 2 that the tension of spring 14 may be varied simply by inserting a screw driver or coin into the kerf of the head of screw 12 and turning thereof. This effects movement to the right of the spacer sleeve 13 which pushes against the left end of spring 14 thereby effecting greater compression thereof so that the spring will ofier greater resistance to relative sliding movement between arms 7 and tubes 6. By varying the degree of tension of spring 14, a tighter or looser fit, that is, a greater or lesser pressure is applied to the face by the eye-surround,- ing portions of the goggles, thus enabling the wearer to adjust the spring tension so as to provide the most comfortable fit for his particular face or head size.

A further adjustment is provided by unclamping clips 4 by unscrewing the nuts a so as to enable the tubes 6 to he slid relative to the clips 4 to position the goggles at any desired distance away from the pivotal centers of clips 4, depending upon the size of the wearers head and his facial contour. When the right spacing is obtained, the nuts 5a are tightened.

It will be apparent that the goggles are pivotally mounted on headband 1 and may be pulled away therefrom against the action of spring 14 to enable movement of the goggles from the wearing position, forwardly of the eyes, to a position on the forehead of the wearer where the goggles rest while not in use.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the adjusting nut 12 and spacer sleeve 13 and comprises, instead, an enlarged nut 7b screw threaded onto the threaded portion 7a at the rear end of arm 7 and being of sufficient length to act a spacer element. The inner face of the nut may be recessed as desired to provide a well for seating the rearward end of spring 14. The out may be seated if desired and provided with locking means of any well known type, such as a plastic insert or, instead, a Palnut ith rea s o he p and bot om- Thus, it will be seen that I have provided an eflicient goggle mounting including a readily adjustable spring suspension for pivota lly mounting the goggles on a headgear in a ann r so s t great y facilit e adju ment of th o les to slifieren wearers ha ing wide y d fiereut head sizes and facial contours and so as to insure not only a proper but a comfortable fit; furthermore, to assure an extremely comfortable fit, I have provided relatively simple means for adjusting the tension of the spring mounting; furthermore, I have provided an efiicient adapter and stop element which will fit various types of goggles for limiting the pivotal movement of the goggles relative to the pivotal supporting arms thereof; furthermore, I have provided a goggle suspension for a headband or other supporting structure, which suspension involves a minimum number of parts of very simple and inexpensive construction, providing extremely low cost in manufacture and in the replacement of parts, and which includes adjusting means which may be operated in a simple manner by the operator without the necessity of removal of the goggles.

Wh le I have illustrated an sc be s a m o n s 0i y n nt on i ll b un e th they are by way of illustration only, and that various changes and modifications may be made within the contemplation of my invention and within the scope of the followns la ms.

I claim:

1. In combination, a pair of goggles and a suspension therefor, said suspension comprising a supporting t em! her adapted to be mounted on the head of the wearer, a pair of clamping means including apertured clamping end portions pivotally mounted on the opposite and outer sides of said supporting member by adjustable pivot screws, said pair of goggles having supporting arms exend n ear a y r m the outer ides o a p ir of longitudinal, elements mounted on said opposite sides for relative longitudinal sliding movement with respect to said pivot screws and said end portions of the arms and being slidably mounted on said clamping means and adjustably clamped by said clamping means to enable selective adjustment of the distance between the goggles and the pivots of said clamping means, and spring means for yieldably resisting movement between said arms and said longitudinal elements,

2. In combination, a pair of goggles and a suspension therefor, said suspension comprising a headband adapted to be supported on the head of the wearer, said pair of clamps pivotally mounted on opposite and outer sides of said headband, said pair of goggles having a pair of supporting arms extending rearwardly from the outer sides thereof, a pair of tubular elements, each surrounding thefree end portion of one of said arms and having an end .wall provided with an opening slightly greater in diameter than the arm for providing a bearing for relative sliding movement betWCin the arm and tubular element, each clamp being in the form of a strip snugly en-v circling one of said tubular elements and having an adjustable pivot screw extending through registering holes in the ends of the strips and plvotally mounted on said headband whereby said clamps are adjustably positioned and clamped to said tubular elements at selective positions throughout the length of said tubular elements to permit adjustment of the distance between the pivots of the clamps and the goggles so that the goggle may be adjusted to suit different wearers, and a spring contained in each tubular element and connected so as to yieldably resist said relative sliding movement.

3. A mounting as recited in claim 2 wherein each clamp completely encircles the corresponding tubular element and includes a pivotal bolt having the dual function of selectively tightening the elarnp onto said tubular element and onto said headband and wherein one end of said spring is supported by said end wall, and wherein means are threadedly secured to the free ends of said arms to erve s ops f the pposi nd of d p n and as a means for adjusting the tension of said springs, where: by said variable resistance to relative sliding movement between said tubular elements and arms is provided.

4. In combination, a pair of goggles and a suspension therefor, said suspension comprising a pair of clips in the form of flexible strips with overlapping ends with reg istering pivotal holes and pivotally supported on opposite sides of a headband, a pair of cylindrical tubes about which said clips are adjustably clamped selectively along the lengths of said tubes, pivotal means extending through said holes for adjustably clamping said clips on said tubes and for simultaneously varying the frictional resistance against pivotal movement of said clamps relative to said headband, a pair of arms attached to opposite, temporal portions of said goggles and having its free ends projecting through the forward ends of said tubes, and spring means within said tubes for resisting forward sliding movement of said arms with respect to said tubes.

5. In combination, a pair of goggles and a suspension therefor, said suspension comprising a pair of arms having forward ends pivotally mounted on the temporal side portions of said pair of goggles, the rear end portion of said arms including means for arms on diametrically opposite sides of a headband, said goggles being provided with vertical slots at the rear outside portions thereof, a separate stop element of relatively thin strip material having integral ear portions snugly embracing forward offset end portions of said arms and having free ends extending rearwardly into said slots, whereby the extremities of said slots limit the pivotal movement of said goggles with respect to said arms.

6. A goggle suspension as recited in claim 5, wherein said means for pivotally supporting said arms comprises a pair of clamps which are slidable along the length of said arms and including strips snugly embracing said arms and having registering holes in the end portions thereof through which extend pivotal nut means, the tightening pivotally supporting the of which effects clamping of said clamps on the selected portion of said arms and increases frictional resistance against pivotal rotation of said clamp relative said headband.

7. In combination, a pair of goggles and a suspension therefor, said suspension comprising a pair of clamps in the form of resilient strips bent about a circle and having registering holes in the overlapping end portions thereof, and bolts having shank portions extending through said registering holes and through corresponding holes in a headband, whereby the clamps are pivotally mounted and provide adjustable friction clamping on the headband, a pair of elongated tubes onto which said clamps are adjustably clamped along selective portions of the length of said tubes, said tubes having closed forward end portions each having a central opening, a pair of rods having rear portions extending through said openings and terminating in threaded portions onto which is screw threaded an adjusting sleeve-like means, a helical spring contained in each tube and having one end supported by said closed ends of the tube and the other end supported by said sleeve-like means, whereby rotation of said sleeve-like means adjusts the tension of said springs to provide variable resistance to relative movement between said arms and said tubes, said sleeve-like means being telescopically fitted within said tubes and ex tending along substantial portions of the length of said tubes to serve as a longitudinal guide means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

